Mbenga still team-less

Free agent center D.J. Mbenga's limited bargaining power has been reduced even lower now that the Miami Heat have signed center-power forward Jamaal Magloire to bolster their frontline depth.

The Heat showed lukewarm interest in Mbenga, even bringing him in for a recent workout. However, there was no contract offer made at the conclusion nor any assurances that one would be forthcoming.

That would appear to be a closed issue now after the signing of Magloire.

Although the Lakers added frontline depth last month when they signed Josh Powell, they officially have not closed the door on Mbenga.

The seven-foot journeyman who averaged only 2.5 points and 1.6 rebounds, providing little more than just insurance off the bench for them in the second half of the 2007-2008 season.

However, if the Lakers did sign Mbenga, it in all likelihood would be for the veterans' minimum, which would be for approximately $770,610 and would not become fully guaranteed unless he was on the roster through the second week in January.

Mbenga joined the Lakers last January, initially signing a 10-day contract, for the pro-rated veterans' minimum, after being waived by the Golden State Warriors. The Lakers signed Mbenga for the remainder of the regular season last Feb. 11.

Mbenga averaged 2.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in seven playoff games. He appeared once briefly in the Western Conference finals against San Antonio and did not play at all during the six-game NBA finals series against the Boston Celtics.

The 30-year old Magloire has seen his production drop since the 2003-2004 season when he averaged a 13.6-point, 10.3-rebound double-double for the New Orleans Hornets. He was selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game that year.

Magloire began last season with the New Jersey Nets but after seeing sparse playing time was waived and subsequently signed by the Dallas Mavericks. In 31 games this past season, he averaged 1.8 points and 2.9 rebounds, both season lows for his eight-year career.

The Lakers still retain their entire mid-level exception of $5.885 million for the 2008-2009 season. In all likelihood, they will open the regular season with a 14-man roster, one under the NBA's allowable maximum, thereby maintaining roster flexibility, in case they want to use their mid-level exception to sign a player in the second half of the season.

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